Ra Hwak-jin / Woo Ji-won
◇ 2022 KBS·MBC·SBS Drama Awards take place
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| ▲This photo, a captured image, shows Kim Nam-gil receiving grand prize at SBS Drama Awards. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
On December 30 and 31, Drama Awards of major channels, KBS·MBC·SBS, took place.
Kim Nam-gil snagged his second Grand prize for his performance in crime thriller "Through the Darkness" at SBS Drama Awards, which took place at SBS Prism Tour on Dec. 31.
Kim, in his acceptance speech, said, "I did not expect it at all because the drama was aired at the beginning of the year," adding, "I sincerely thank the viewers who have not forgotten about our work and loved it until the end."
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| ▲This photo, provided by KBS, shows singer and actor Lee Seung-gi. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo, provided by KBS, shows actor Joo Sang-wook. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Actors Lee Seung-gi and Joo Sang-wook won the grand prize at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards, which was held at the new building of KBS on the same day.
Lee Seung-gi, who won the accolade with the drama "The Law Cafe," attended the event with a shaved head.
Lee Seung-gi said, "This year was probably the hardest year in my life," adding, "In fact, I thought about not attending this Drama Awards for more than a hundred times."
In his acceptance speech, He said, "I believe I am receiving this grand prize this year on behalf of the entire crew and cast of the drama "The Law Cafe," and "I am sorry for receiving this award as a representative."
Joo Sang-wook who received the award along with Lee Seung-gi for his excellent performance in the drama "Taejong Yi Bang-won" said, "I am so grateful to win this award here at KBS, where I made my debut with KBS children drama 25 years ago."
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| ▲This photo shows actor Lee Jong-suk. (Yonhap) |
Meanwhile, actor Lee Jong-suk became the Grand Prize winner of MBC Drama Awards with drama series "Big Mouth."
This will be his second grand prize after his first win in 2016 with drama series "W."
Actor addressed, "I have already received the grand prize 6 years ago once in my 20s, and I didn't know what this truly meant," adding "I have returned to the screen after quite some time as an actor in 30s, and due to such love and support I have received from everybody, the weight and the responsibility I feel of receiving this award has changed."
◇ J-Hope performs at Times Square on New Year's Eve
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| ▲This photo captured from the official instagram of J-Hope show him performing at Times Square. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
New Year's celebration held in New York, United States has fully returned in size after three years due to Covid-19. Number of K-pop artists took the stage and showcased K-pop music throughout the celebratory event.
Time Square Ball Drop event held annually on December 31 to celebrate the coming of new year at Times Square of New York was restricted due to the wide spread of Covid-19 for the past two years, but it has returned as the regulations regarding big events were dropped.
America's well known TV program ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" featured K-pop superstar BTS' J-Hope in three years since the group was featured on the show three years ago.
With the host Ryan Seacrest's introduction of J-HOPE, the first solo artist from BTS to top the Billboard's "HOT 100" chart, the singer performed "=," "Chicken Noodle Soup," and "Butter," receiving wild reaction from new yorkers.
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| ▲This photo captured from the official instagram of J-Hope show him performing at Times Square. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Number of fans waved their green glow sticks or put up signs written "We Love You" in Korean, welcoming the artist's visit to New York as a solo artist.
This will be the third time that any South Korean artist has ever taken the stage of the new year's event at Times Square, following Psy in 2012 and BTS in 2019.
Meanwhile, K-pop boy group Tomorrow x Together performed at the Disneyland located in Los Angeles, receiving love from their fans. The celebratory event is showcased live stages located in various locations evenly spread out throughout United States.
◇ K-pop star IU in relationship with actor Lee Jong-suk
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| ▲ A composite photo of singer-actress IU, also known as Lee Ji-eun, and actor Lee Jong-suk. (Yonhap) |
Singer-actress IU is dating actor Lee Jong-suk, their agencies said Saturday.
"The two have recently evolved into lovers from close co-workers," Lee's agency, HighZium studio, said in a statement, confirming a news report on their romantic relationship.
Edam Entertainment, the agency of IU, also confirmed the news, asking people "to look on their relationship with warm eyes."
Dispatch, an online newspaper, reported earlier in the day that the actors have been dating for about four months and spent Christmas holiday in Japan together.
Lee Jong-suk may have indirectly mentioned IU in his speech after winning the MBC Drama Award for his leading role in thriller drama "Big Mouse" on Friday.
In his acceptance speech, he said there is a person who helped him navigate towards positive thinking when he was suffering from a lot of fear and worries after completing his mandatory military service last year.
"I want to say that I have deep respect for this person and have liked this person for a very long time," he said.
Since debuting in 2010, Lee has starred in various hit TV dramas and movies, including "I Hear Your Voice" (2013), "Doctor Stranger" (2014) and "The Face Reader" (2013).
IU, also known as Lee Ji-eun, debuted in 2008 as a singer and is currently one of the most popular sole female artists in South Korea with a number of hit songs, including "Good Day" (2010), "Palette" (2017) and "eight" (2020) featuring Suga of K-pop superband BTS.
Since 2011, she has also starred in popular dramas and movies, including "My Mister" (2018) and "Hotel del Luna" (2019).
◇ Actor Song Joong-ki in romantic relationship with British woman
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| ▲Korean actor Song Joong-ki speaks during a press conference for the JTBC drama "Reborn Rich" in Seoul, in this Nov. 19, 2022, file photo provided by JTBC. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
South Korean actor Song Joong-ki has been in a romantic relationship with a woman, his entertainment agency said Monday, following a newspaper report that he's been dating a British woman.
"Song is dating a woman who he has good feelings toward," High Zium Studio said in a statement. "We hope you will look on their relationship with warm eyes."
Local entertainment media earlier reported that Song introduced his non-celebrity British girlfriend to staff members at a media conference held in Singapore earlier this month.
The agency said it can only confirm their relationship status at this point, asking the media from making ungrounded speculation about her identity.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by JTBC show photo of actor Song Joong-ki. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
In 2019, the 38-year-old actor divorced Song Hye-kyo, the co-star of the megahit 2016 drama "Descendants of the Sun."
Since his debut in 2008, Song has appeared in several hit drama series and films, mostly recently "Reborn Rich," which ended Sunday with the highest viewership ratings of this year for a Korean drama.
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